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Whitman rolls into Pleasanton in her "Take Back Sac" tour bus

Original post made
on Oct 21, 2010

That commotion on Main Street late yesterday afternoon was just a typical day for Meg Whitman, the Republican candidate for governor who rolled into Pleasanton just before 5 p.m. in her big green bus, the "Take Back Sac Express."

Posted by joan
a resident of Pleasanton Valley
on Oct 21, 2010 at 8:37 am

Thank god we still have candidates WHO OUR NOT TOTALLY INFLUENCED BY THE UNIONS OF THIS STATE. If I was making CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW, ONLY THE TAXPAYERS OF THEIR DISTRICT OR COUNTY OF STATE, WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE FUNDS. We need candidates like WHITMAN WHO WILL BE THE AVERAGE JOE WITH JOBS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. NOT JOBS IN GOVERNMENT THAT WE ALL HAVE TO PAY FOR. VOTE FOR WHITMAN

Posted by really joan
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 21, 2010 at 8:56 am

Average Joe... she spends more in a day that most of us will in a year.
I do like your ideas on campaign reform except I would go further to say that we set aside a certain amount for each candidate to use and that is it. Why not have an even playing field that would totally exclude the special interest groups and wealthy private contributors. Imagine an system where candidates really are working for the poeple they represent as a whole without worrying about campaign contributors/lobbyists/and the next election fund.

Posted by Don't waste gov't $$
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 21, 2010 at 9:40 am

Really Joan, so you think government would have enough spare change by stealing some from every social service and government program.. to then pass out $$ to any nut who wants to campaign for some office?
I don't THINK so !! Anybody worth their salt, who makes sense, has a better idea, etc....WILL gather followers and $$. Just ""build a better mousetrap" and you'll sell the most,.....have a better message and donors will come.
Calling and begging 24/7 the way recent LAWS have created does suck !The only open, fair way is.....do something WORTHY, thus JUSTIFYING holding office, develop the message, and allow UNlimited donations from any citizen, with 24 hour immediate posting on internet. There should be NO limits, just full disclosure. So if it's ONLY Hollywood $$, and nobody with credibility, we would know. More disclosure, like the $800,000,+, ACORN gave to Obama (with public subsidies), then he in turn grant them more $$ as president....like so many so-called non-profits, who are fronts for political activities... that should be stopped..it really stinks....as does the total PUBLIC UNION CONTROL of every election, for every office in the state of CA...our voice doesn't matter any more, they drown us out.

Posted by Union Yes!
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 21, 2010 at 10:18 am

Isn't it wonderful that we celebrate a billionaire who is trying to buy an election while demonizing middle-class union members? I guess our citizens don't notice how the decline of the middle-class has paralleled the decline of unions since Reaganomics took hold 30 years ago. Say good-bye to the once large American middle-class and say hello to rise of corporate feudalism.

Posted by Able
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 21, 2010 at 11:10 am

It's the unions who are trying to buy this election and spend billions of the our money (and borrow more because that won't even be enough) if Brown gets elected, so I'm not worried about one billionaire woman who made it to the top through her own hard work and uses her own money as she sees fit. We used to celebrate people like that. What a shame.

Now lets talk about Jerry Brown, who would never have become governor but for the fact he benefited from his father being governor, who fought prop 13 tooth and nail then after it passed and taxes went down he has the nerve to take credit for taxes going down during his term even though he was against it. Really?

As a conservative, Meg Whitman would not be my first choice as governor. However, the prospect of have Jerry Brown combined with a left leaning assembly is not one that I relish. At least a moderate governor (like Whitman would be) will somewhat blunt the crazy tax and spenders who have driven California into its current dire state.

Unless CA addresses its spending and high tax problems, the state seems doomed to either bankruptcy or Sweden-like tax schedules.

Posted by Saeed
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 21, 2010 at 8:28 pm

How could anyone in their right mind vote for Jerry Brown? His first two terms as Governor were an unmitigated disaster. He was a loon, he is a loon, and as Governor-Recycled he would be a loon. If he gets in as Governor, your taxes are going to get raised, the wave of illegals will become a flood, he will again gut transportation, he will again appoint idiots to the State Supreme Court, he will give industry and agriculture the shaft as he did in his first two terms, he will force cities to put in low-cost housing, and the unions will have absolute power in California. As I said, how could anyone in their right mind vote for Jerry Brown?

Posted by dublinmike
a resident of Dublin
on Oct 21, 2010 at 9:48 pmdublinmike is a registered user.

Saeed, another intelligent whit... If you really researched Brown you would discover his accomplishments. Better a known quantity than an unknown Whitman.

Let's look at from another perspective. Whitman is use to dictatorial management style. It's her way or no way. Do you think politics is a dictatorship? She will fail and, of course, blame it on the Democrats. She has a no-fail focus. It's about ego...

Anyone who thinks Jerry Brown has any accomplishments should check their sources of information...He is symbolic of what is wrong with CA...If he has accomplished so much why doesn't he campaign on his record instead of just attacking Whitman...He isn't running on his record because his record is a train wreck...instead he says he's experienced...

Criticize Whitman all you want, facts are she has created jobs in a large way and in CA...Come to think of it Jerry Brown does have an accomplishment to his credit, he has become a successful career politician as the expense of the taxpayers.

Posted by Maria
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 21, 2010 at 10:53 pm

I'll admit, I wasn't around the last time Jerry was around, so he's as much an unknown quantity to me as Meg.
A lot of folks seems to be talking about voting for the lesser of two evils, though, and Meg's spending has made me a little wary; she claimed during the debate at UC Davis that it meant she wasn't shackled to special interests. Okay, fine, is she also going to use her money to run the state government?...

Posted by Arroyo
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 21, 2010 at 11:37 pm

Lived through the Jerry Brown years -- he'll never get my vote again. (I used to be a Democrat.) Meg Whitman may not be any better than Jerry Brown, but I seriously doubt that she could be any worse.

I'm willing to give her four years to try to help get this dysfunctional state back on track. Solving California's problems is going to be a painful confrontational experience for all in the legislature -- and, Jerry Brown is not up to the job.

Posted by Chuck Wiedel
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 22, 2010 at 8:35 am

The mere thought of Jerry Brown in the governor's seat again sends chills down my spine! Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result.
To elect Jerry Brown would fit that description.
He was a failure as Governor; I remember, and we are still paying the costs of his tenure in that job. How about as Mayor of Oakland? A dismal failure!! And, he left the schools, among other things, in WORSE shape than he found them!! As A.G., all he has done is spend time re-writing his resume, so he can run for Gov. again!!

WE DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS! I don't happen to think Meg Whitman is going to be able to solve all the problems in Sacramento, but I DO think she will TRY, and she stands a much better chance at SUCCESS than lifetime-government employee Brown! PLEASE JOIN ME, AND VOTE FOR MEG WHITMAN FOR GOVERNOR!!

As long as the Dems control the legislature (like the past 40 years of screwing up Calif.) there's not much hope things will improve soon. But, worse still, would be to elect a Dem for governor since there would be no one standing between us and the continued destruction of our state.
Admit it, the state is failing under majority Dem rule---you can't blame it on anyone or anything else. Stop repeating the same insanity that got us to this point--vote all Dems out.

Posted by Maria
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 22, 2010 at 10:37 am

I admit that I am politically ignorant. I know that those running will make campaign promises, that they can not possibly keep. It is not just one person that governs our state. He needs co-operation from all the other politician that,have made US promises to care for our benefit. Not their on agenda. They are just figure heads. We need someone that will not ignor our vote, and tells us that they know what's good for us. You all are correct in saying why don't they (Brown & Whitman) just go by their records. I am so tired of the dirt sling. Do you think that they can just tell us what they Believe they can do to help our state and Not Make anymore empty promises. I am a registered Dem. but many times vote Rep. For the person that I trusted and believed in to work for us. I don't know who I'm going to vote for. God help us to choose correctly. We can not afford any more loss jobs.

Posted by Gary Schwaegerle
a resident of Downtown
on Oct 22, 2010 at 12:54 pmGary Schwaegerle is a registered user.

We must be Grateful to Meg; many are saying she will not Win. So let us say "Thank You very much for providing her portion $162 million dollar "Stimulus Package" contribution to "The Kalifornia Economy" For those that work in Political campaigning, Media, printing, air time, photographers, News People, Fuel, tires, Restaurants, Motels & more. "THANK YOU! Meg Whitman for Giving Back to California where Dreams can Come True!" Sincerely, Gary Schwaegerle

Posted by Concerned Californian
a resident of Valley Trails
on Oct 22, 2010 at 1:57 pm

Union Brown is going down. Californians should know better by now--we can't spend our way out of a recession, we need to create jobs. Brown has only created high-paying, do-nothing government jobs that require taxpayor financing. His only focus on jobs will be creating so-called "Green Jobs" - which he admitted during the debates would only account for 3% of California's economy. Come on, not everyone can build $100K Teslas in Fremont that no one can afford to buy.

If he had good ideas and a good track record, he wouldn't have had to resort to dirty tricks with his buddy Gloria Allred. He's hoping Californians are stupid. And if they elect him, he's proposed lack of funding for community colleges and CSUs/UCs will make sure the populace of California continues to get dumber and dumber for years to come.

Posted by Don't waste gov't $
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 22, 2010 at 5:45 pm

VERY POPULAR and EFFECTIVE NYCity Mayor BLoomberg was here helping Meg today.. HE was, is, and also recoognizes, smart and EFFECTIVE people.
Meg took a brand new concept in a new field, with nothing to follow, from startup to a WORLD class operation.....in a field NO woman or man had done before. Isn't that what Americans are SUPPOSE to do ? ? Be GOOD enough to BE the BEST and be FIRST ! ! BE GOOD enough to not only make yourself rich, but the company, the employees, and those you help also ! Only the most jealous and petty would critize her ability to become a Billionaire. Those of you who prefer a loser..go for it with jerry whose only learned skill was politics, at his father's knees in the governor's mansion. PURELY and ONLY politics ! CA DESERVES better...stupid people don't deserve it, but the Golden State does deserve a better future !

Posted by Kim
a resident of Castlewood Heights
on Oct 23, 2010 at 8:08 pm

I will not vote for someone who has not voted for many years. She doesn't seem to be interested in politics until she decides to run for governor. What makes her fit? As far as I feel, she trying to buy an election, doesn't give a damn about the middle and lower classes, and if she gets in, she will bring the class difference even wider than it is now. She can't buy my vote - I think what really turned me off of her was the fact that she spent so much of her money trying to buy an election. She has no concept of money since she has so much. And you think your schools are good here in Pleasanton now? If for some horrible situation where she gets in, you better believe we will never get 0 period back for the high schools, and furthermore, we will end up with even less money than what we get now for schools. I had my kids for one year in a school district that got $14,000 per student. What a difference.

Jerry has my vote, and everyone else that I know. Not so much that he was great, but at least he has experience, likes the environment, and has voted for the last several years. And, he is not trying to buy my vote.

I also remember the Jerry Brown years - Taxes WILL go up without seeing much improvement in CA - While there is no perfect candidate, I think we need someone who is not a career politician who will work to help us get on the right fiscall track so Whitman has my vote.

Posted by No Jerry
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 24, 2010 at 1:37 pm

According to a Univ. Stanford report, the Public Employee Retirement Program PERS has a $500 BILLION debt in unfunded liabilities. How will the 37M population of CA pay for that? Simple math is that each man, women and child would pay $13,500 to save the system. I don't have that kind of money do you?

If we don't elect a politically conservative, you will be paying for the state and city employee unions and their debt. The biggest backers for Jerry Brown are.. the Unions of course, trying to save their retirement program through a bail out at our expense.

Posted by Don't waste gov't $
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 24, 2010 at 8:43 pm

Well Jerry, if Brown gets in, I'm not sticking around to pay dmy $13,500.oo to save the public employee program. Watch the mass exodus to get ahead of the insanity. No job at the moment, so it'd be a good time to leave. The Brits in the UK this week just voted to CUT government 20% ! The angry Chets and Not Forget will be left behind to 'support' their system they suck off. We wise ones will be gone. Even more than the corrupt stupid legislature, I hate the stupid VOTERS more ! You deserve the government you own...My kids don't deserve the broken state you'll leave them.

Posted by Resident
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 25, 2010 at 12:18 pm

Kim:

Jerry Brown will increase taxes and will use them to continue to finance the unions, we need reform.

He also sued Pleasanton, joining forces with the Habitat for Humanity which demands more low income housing in Pleasanton.

Imagine the damage this man can do to California. We already have a democratic legislature which is afraid to reform the unions, which are slowly bringing our state to bankruptcy. You do know that we have police and fire chiefs retiring at the age of 50 with 200K pensions, and then they get hired again and "double dip" (receive a salary plus the inflated pension) - this is what Brown will continue. Please rethink your vote.

Posted by reasonable
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 25, 2010 at 1:18 pm

Much as I like a moderate governor to counter the far-left assembly (I voted for Arnold), Meg is likely to run right into a brick wall just like Arnold did. So this time we need someone who knows how to get things done in Sacto.

Brown is much more likely to extract concessions from his fellow democrats and union supporters than Meg is-- they'll just dig in against her and we'll get nowhere.

Yeah, our taxes may go up. We have an unfunded deficit (thanks to Gray Davis and the boomtown economy in the late 1990's) that cannot be solved without BOTH tax increases and spending cuts. It is very sad but unfortunately it is just dollars and cents. There will be no winners here but it wouldn't be any better with Meg. She would just spend the first 3 years figuring out how Sacramento (admittedly a very dysfuncitonal place) works.

Jerry Brown is a guy who will live on a budget. Yes, he'll also be sympathetic to the working class, those needing low-income housing (gasp!) and yes, even those who are undocumented: We have an increasingly problematic underclass and we really do need to deal with it. Even Meg will not ship them all back to Mexico!!!

Posted by Donna
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 28, 2010 at 8:53 pm

Well, If Jerry Brown gets elected and he kills prop 13 we will see LOTS more people losing their homes - Me included ! Having bought my house 14 years ago it will devastate us! No thanks Jerry, let's control the spending and get California WORKING again.

Whitman should take that bus back to her office and turn out the lights and turn off the engine. She is correctly losing this election and all the money in the world is not going to help. Whitman has no ability and her plans are not workable. Whitman is correctly now way behind in the polls and will lose by an even greater margin than they show today. Whitman was easily able to fool and buy Republican votes but she has correctly failed when it comes to the general election. Thank goodness you can't buy Sacramento.

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